How to Save Money and Time by Choosing the Right Payroll Service for Construction in the New Year

As the year comes to an end, you might be looking for a way to streamline your construction payroll service. There are many options out there, but not all of them are tailored to your specific needs. How do you find the best payroll service for your construction business? One that can handle complex reporting, tax compliance, and labor regulations with ease.

In this blog post, we will share some tips on how to choose the right payroll service for your construction business and save time and money in the process.

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Payroll service companies vary in their capabilities; some may struggle with complex matters like prevailing wage, union, or fringe pay trust funds. While some merely generate reports, they can’t ensure accuracy or provide assistance if certified payroll reports face rejection.

With so many constantly changing rules and regulations, it can be difficult to find a payroll provider that you can trust understands the intricacies of construction payroll.

Your first step should be to find out whether a prospective company focuses on payroll processing in general, or if they focus primarily on payroll and reporting in the construction industry to keep your particular requirements at the forefront.

Key Considerations for Construction Payroll Service Providers

Here are a few things you should consider when searching for your ideal construction payroll service provider:

Essential Questions for Choosing the Right Service for the Construction Industry

• Does the company stay informed about Davis Bacon laws, federal and state prevailing wage compliance, wage determinations, union bargaining agreements, apprentice rate increases, city versus county jurisdictions, government versus private jobs, and current events in the construction field?
• Can they maintain multiple pay rates, shifts, and other complex pay differentials?
• Does the company actively handle and accurately track fringe benefits for prevailing wage reporting?
• Will the company offer fringe benefit trust management to boost employer savings?
• Will the payroll provider offer automated reporting that fits specific construction needs, such as WH347 certified payroll reports and union training fund coupons, or interfacing with reporting software?
• Does the software program easily handle multiple jobs, unions, or pay rates on a single paycheck?
• How does the company actively manage job costing and track labor?
• Is there an option for prime contractor and subcontractor reporting alike?
• How actively does the company process and correct restitution for certified payroll reporting?

Beyond Construction: Common Payroll Topics to Consider

Outside of construction-focused needs, you may also want to evaluate a provider for more common payroll topics relating to office employees and management. Some other considerations include:

• Is the system functional and user-friendly?
• Will the payroll program be simple and fast?
• Is the company attentive to updates and does it change and grow with client needs?
• How well does the company handle onboarding, employee benefits and deductions, and human resources processes like I9s, EEO, or FMLA?
• Are there features for worker’s compensation tracking, payroll tax preparation and filing, and year-end reporting like W2s and 1099s?
• What timekeeping or scheduling tools are offered? And how well do clock ins/outs transfer from a mobile app or manual timeclocks to the software for processing?
• Can the company actively track time and attendance, making adjustments with ease?
• How well does it integrate with accounting programs like QuickBooks, Sage, Computer Ease, Procore, or others?
• Is the company flexible with employee payments and offers options for direct deposit, live checks, and pay cards?
• Does the cost of services line up with the valuable features you require?

Making the Right Payroll Service Choice

While it can seem overwhelming to choose a new payroll provider, ultimately you need to consider which company is best serving your needs and will have your company’s interests at heart in the future.

Whether or not your employees perform prevailing wage work, the construction industry has many payroll demands that are unique from other businesses. The ideal service will save you time, money, and headaches, while they tackle payroll problems head-on.

eBacon is a leader in construction payroll service software whose goal is to streamline your entire payroll process. We’re dedicated to simplifying operations for construction professionals while making sure you’re compliant in every area you need.

The material presented here is educational in nature and is not intended to be, nor should be relied upon, as legal or financial advice. Please consult with an attorney or financial professional for advice.